A royal mess
Fancy yourself a detective, do you? Think you can work out which clues are relevant, and solve the mystery? Then listen up, I have a job for you…
Your assignment is to solve the case of the recent theft from the Royal Palace. And the suspect, no other than Sherlock Holmes himself!
But…can it be true?
That’s for you to find out. Prove Holmes’ guilt or innocence, but solve the case!
The game Decktective: Lock up Sherlock Holmes! is the seventh in the Decktective series (no prior knowledge of the series is required to play). Work alone or with up to another 5 players to solve the mystery. Select which clues are useful, and pay attention to everything. After all, with an adversary like Holmes, you have a challenge on your hands.
Small, but mighty
Decktective: Lock up Sherlock Holmes! is a compact game, but it has presence. The 3D crime scene is clever and a delight. Visual design is thoughtful and deliberate, with sympathy for those with poor eyesight, and rewards for lovers of detail. Language choice is precise, leaving little space for ambiguity amongst instructions.
Similarities to other games
Decktective: Lock up Sherlock Holmes! is similar to Exit games, with fewer and less complex challenges. It is clever, although in different ways. It also does a few things better. Sharing clues amongst players and card sizing fixes the challenge of one or two players solving a puzzle alone, or a passive player being unable to contribute. Attention to detail removes that nagging concern over whether player or gamemaker error is responsible for uncertainty. Additionally, no components are destroyed, meaning that the game can regifted or re-sold.
Decktective: Lock up Sherlock Holmes! also has something akin to a Choose Your Own Adventure feel to it, without providing tens of pathways. Choices you make determine which clues are available. That said, the gamemakers are sympathetic and do provide mechanisms to ensure that key clues aren’t missed.
Conclusion
Decktective: Lock up Sherlock Holmes! is a well thought out and satisfying game. It is short, and clever. Decisions about clues and player autonomy in those moments are nice dynamics that add a little jeopardy and tension. Events prevent the pace slowing, and are well timed. Attention to detail is appreciated, whether relevant to the clues or nice-to-have visuals.
This is a nice game, without too much complexity. There is no need to study rules beforehand, as everything is well explained. I would happily play others in the series, and look forward to re-gifting this game to friends, who I am confident will enjoy it also.
